Jean Kouremetis, chief people officer at Mod Op, a full-service marketing and advertising agency, knows the importance of staying agile. “Career paths are no longer linear and that employee tenures might be shorter than in the past,” she says. To meet those changing needs, Mod Op developed “personalized training programs designed to help employees build the skills they need for long-term success.”
From challenges like AI to talent acquisition, remaining curious and adaptable is the only constant that will get you where you want to go. Kouremetis shares the lessons she’s learned as an HR leader and best practices to keep continuous learning central to your strategy.
How is your organization adapting its talent acquisition strategy to attract and retain top digital advertising professionals in an increasingly competitive market?
Mod Op is proactively and continuously evolving our talent acquisition strategy. We understand that to stand out, it’s crucial to offer a comprehensive and dynamic employee experience that meets both professional and personal needs.
We stay ahead by regularly benchmarking market salary ranges to ensure our compensation remains competitive. In addition, we offer strong benefit options and an unlimited vacation policy, providing employees with the flexibility to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
We invest in our employees’ long-term success through continuous learning opportunities, unlimited learning platform licenses and our forthcoming Rising Stars Program, which will identify and accelerate the growth of high-potential talent. This commitment to development not only attracts ambitious professionals but also fosters internal mobility and career progression.
Our work ecosystem is built on cross-discipline collaboration for client projects, ensuring employees gain diverse experience and exposure. Beyond client work, we encourage cross-office and interdepartmental collaboration through initiatives like trivia events, Halloween costume competitions, donut meet-ups, internal committees and cultural programs. Our goal is to strengthen our community and promote engagement across all levels of the organization.
With the rise of AI and automation in digital advertising, how are you ensuring that your workforce remains agile and equipped with the necessary skills for the future?
Mod Op is committed to equipping our workforce with the skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven future. Our approach emphasizes governance, hands-on experience and continuous learning. At the core of this effort is our AI Council, a diverse group overseeing compliance, testing new AI tools, and sharing insights through monthly updates.
Our training platform prioritizes responsible AI use, requiring employees to complete foundational literacy and ethics training before accessing advanced tools. This ensures a strong technical and ethical foundation for AI adoption. We actively deploy proprietary AI tools internally and integrate them into client work where applicable. To encourage innovation, our AI Playground provides a structured space for employees to experiment with new AI applications responsibly.
Recognizing that employees prefer experiential learning, we are expanding hands-on training and have launched a creator community—department-specific experts who design personalized training content. Our internal research shows career advancement and team success drive our workforce, so we are broadening learning pathways beyond AI to include leadership, collaboration and strategic skills. By aligning training with real-world applications, we empower employees to grow in their careers while contributing to Mod Op’s success.
As employee expectations evolve, how is Mod Op redefining its approach to career development and internal mobility?
As employee expectations evolve, Mod Op is redefining career development and internal mobility by prioritizing flexibility, personalized growth and dynamic opportunities. We recognize that career paths are no longer linear and that employee tenures might be shorter than in the past. To meet these changing needs, we focus on providing tailored development experiences that keep employees engaged, challenged and supported in their individual career journeys.
Our approach includes personalized training programs designed to help employees build the skills they need for long-term success. We are working toward an investment in manager training that not only develops senior-level talent but also equips leaders with the tools to support and grow their teams effectively. Additionally, we offer opportunities to work on cross-department client projects, allowing employees to expand their expertise, collaborate with new teams and keep things fresh.
Flexibility is a cornerstone of our strategy. With hybrid, remote and in-office options, employees can work in the way that best supports their productivity and personal needs. We want our staff to feel empowered to evolve within the company while maintaining a strong sense of purpose and engagement.
With multiple offices across North America, how does Mod Op foster a cohesive company culture while ensuring alignment and engagement across geographically dispersed teams?
Mod Op fosters a cohesive company culture across its geographically dispersed teams through open communication, cross-functional collaboration and intentional leadership engagement. Weekly all-agency meetings keep employees aligned on company-wide initiatives while providing a platform to celebrate wins, share challenges and reinforce our shared vision. These meetings, along with cross-department and cross-geographical teams working together on client and internal projects, ensure that employees feel connected and engaged, regardless of location.
To strengthen personal connections and break down organizational silos, we’re introducing initiatives like mentorship programs and have launched Eric’s Lunchbox Sessions, where our CEO meets virtually each week with up to 10 employees from across the company. These informal, company-sponsored lunches provide a unique opportunity for employees to ask questions, share insights and build relationships with leadership in a relaxed setting.
While we celebrate the distinct cultures of our various locations, we are also committed to creating a unified experience through standardized platforms, policies and systems. Our leadership team, which includes long-tenured employees, acquired talent and newly hired senior staff, ensures that we integrate diverse perspectives while reinforcing a strong, cohesive culture that supports both innovation and continuity across the organization.
